Chef Marlon McKnight will serve the sweet, golden Jamaican dough treats called festivals as a side at Jerk N Juice, D.C.'s latest destination for Jamaica food, when it launches on Dec. 1, Laura Hayes writes for Washington City Paper.

Dishes range from a jerk chicken BLT to braised oxtails and curried shrimp, and you can pair each meal with a tropical fruit juice to which alcohol can be added.

"The bar housed inside Tastemakers—Benjamin's on Franklin—is now open with limited hours (Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 4 p.m. to midnight)....There are hints of Benjamin Franklin everywhere including cocktails made with one of his favorite potent potables. "Three Flies" has a madeira base, plus strawberry and lemon served over crushed ice in the style of a cobbler."

Tastemakers "will host new vegan stall Pianta starting this month. The vegan Italian deli counter is the brick-and-mortar concept of local business DC Vegan Catering—founded in 2015 by Michael and Leah Moon—and will feature a number of authentic Italian deli sandwiches and sides.

"Veteran food truckers Kirk and Juliann Francis are just weeks away from opening the very brick-and-mortar Tastemakers, a combination food hall, commercial kitchen, bar, and retail space currently taking shape in Brookland."

WBJ breaks the news

"...an 8,000-square-foot warehouse at 2800 10th St. NE, about a half mile from the Brookland-CUA Metro station. The former mayonnaise factory is less than a block from the Right Proper Brewing Co. production facility... and has the 'unicorn combination' of proximity to Metro, three garage bays and onsite parking."